Forest area in Kenya
Kenya: Forest area was 36,111 sq. km in 2023. ▼ Falling
Forest area in Kenya, 1990–2023
Source: FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in sq. km.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 36,111 sq. km for forest area in 2023.
The figure is up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, forest area in Kenya peaked at 39,612 sq. km in 2000 and was at its lowest, 35,224 sq. km, in 2015.
Kenya ranks 81st of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Forest area in Kenya, year by year
| Year | sq. km | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 38,585 sq. km | — |
| 1991 | 38,688 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 38,791 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 38,893 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 38,996 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 39,099 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 39,201 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 39,304 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 39,407 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 39,509 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 39,612 sq. km | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 39,267 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 38,922 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 38,577 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 38,232 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 37,888 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 37,543 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 37,198 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 36,853 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 36,508 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 36,163 sq. km | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 35,976 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 35,788 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 35,600 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 35,412 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 35,224 sq. km | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 35,520 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 35,815 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 36,111 sq. km | +0.0% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 36,111 sq. km is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 36,019 sq. km, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 36,111 sq. km is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 59,081 sq. km, 61% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39,047 sq. km | 38,585 sq. km | 39,509 sq. km | 10 |
| 2000s | 38,060 sq. km | 36,508 sq. km | 39,612 sq. km | 10 |
| 2010s | 35,772 sq. km | 35,224 sq. km | 36,163 sq. km | 10 |
| 2020s | 36,111 sq. km | 36,111 sq. km | 36,111 sq. km | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is forest area in Kenya?
- Forest area in Kenya was 36,111 sq. km in 2023, according to FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest forest area recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 39,612 sq. km in 2000.
- What is the lowest forest area recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 35,224 sq. km in 2015.
- How does Kenya rank for forest area?
- Kenya ranks 81st out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is forest area rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Forest area (sq. km). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Forest area is land under natural or planted stands of trees of at least 5 meters in situ, whether productive or not, and excludes tree stands in agricultural production systems (for example, in fruit plantations and agroforestry systems) and trees in urban parks and gardens.